We, human beings, have a natural smell, which is not to mention our clothes, food, and our sweat. They combine to give us a distinctive human smell.
Animals sense this smell for hundreds of yards. This will spook them and make them run away from the hunter or not come near the stand.
With scent killers, the human scent is completely eliminated so that it’s easier to hunt game. Also, there are many odor control products in the market; and they all differ in what they offer. This article will help you choose the best scent killer for you.
Reviews of the Best Scent Killers on the Market
1. Wildlife Research Gold Spray
Best Overall
Easy to apply
Lasts 10 to 20 days
Comes with a refill bottle
Spray bottle may leak
The Wildlife Scent Killer Gold Spray is the gold standard of all odor killer sprays. It comes weighing 24 ounces – very lightweight. After many tests conducted at Rutgers University, this product has been found to eliminate 99% of human odor.
It’s able to do so because it works at the molecular level. Whether in wet or dry conditions, the spray works effectively to block your scent. And after it’s dried, the spray lasts for 10 – 20 days.
The spray is incredibly easy to apply. You just have to spray on your clothes and your hunting gear before heading out to the woods. And because it works when dry, a hunter doesn’t have to worry about wearing wet clothes or carrying wet gear to hunt.
You must note that it works on all kinds of hunting equipment. It also works on all kinds of clothing – no matter the fabric. It even works on sports equipment.
This scent elimination spray works at a molecular level to fight odor. It is made with a special kind of formula using advanced odor fighting ingredients. These attack a wide range of human odors and stops new odors from forming.
When you buy this spray, it comes as a package of two bottles – a spray bottle and a refill bottle. This means that it lasts for a long time, at least for months. You can refill the spray bottle once it’s finished. And, it’s very lightweight and portable.
Because the spray lasts for a long time after being applied, a hunter doesn’t have to worry about spraying again and again once out in the woods.
Wildlife Research calls this spray, The High-Output Sprayer. Considering that you can apply it upside down, that it lasts for a week after it’s dry, and that it comes at an affordable price, the nickname is spot on. The Wildlife Research Scent Killer Spray gives you incredible value for money.
Like everything, it has a downside. The spray’s packaging is not very well done. It is common to find the bottle leaking.
But other than the poor packaging, this spray is all a hunter needs to conceal his odor and hunt down his trophy game. This is the best overall scent killer that we found. It’s an effective odor eliminator for deer hunting.
2. Boneview Ozone Generator
Best Value
Easy to use
Has a rechargeable battery
Lasts for 3 to 5 days
Ozone may affect your health
Stops working if you sweat
Boneview Ozone Generator does not just cover up human scent. It destroys it. The generator produces Ozone. Ozone is a very reactive gas comprised of three oxygen atoms. What Ozone does is to destroy the bacteria and organisms that produce these scents and therefore eliminate the odors themselves.
Boneview Ozone Generator uses a one-push button system. All you need to do is to turn it on and then put it in a bag or wrap it up, since it’s dangerous for humans to directly breathe in Ozone. Once you have it stored amongst your hunting gear, you can head out to hunt with great confidence.
The product was designed to be used in bags, totes, or backpacks up to 6 cubic feet. Once you place the generator in position, it not only eliminates odor, it also completely sterilizes your hunting gear.
The generator has also been designed with long-term use in mind. As long as you use the Boneview Ozone Generator, you won’t need to worry about damaging the elastomers in your hunting gear.
You have to note that the position in which you store the generator will determine the coverage you’ll get from the Ozone generator.
This generator makes use of a 500mAh rechargeable battery. With it fully charged, you can use the Ozone generator multiple times for days on end. It can be recharged using a micro USB charging cord. The cord comes with the generator. It lasts 3 to 5 days after a full charge.
It’s designed specifically for hunting whitetail deer, and elk.
You have to be super careful when using the Boneview Ozone Generator. It’s dangerous for humans to breathe in Ozone. So, you have to use the generator always wrapped up – either in clothes or put in hunting gear.
Also, the Ozone generator does not last as long as the spray and it does not cover as much distance.
However, this deer scent blocker is super easy to use, super easy to carry, and super easy to charge. In many ways, it’s the ideal scent killer. Boneview Ozone Generator gives you the best value for your money.
3. Wildlife Research Gold Bar Soap
Best Budget
Easy to apply
Best budget
Helps you deep clean
Stings eyes terribly
Cannot be used on hunting gear
Wildlife Research’s Gold Bar Soap is used like any other soap in the shower. If you want a deep clean while eliminating any human scent, especially during the hunting season, then this good bar soap is for you.
It is very easy to apply. It only requires that you take a bath with it. You may not need this guide on hunting deer to understand how to use it. It covers your natural odor for the whole day.
The Wildlife Scent Killing Bar Soap is a soft one. It works well with all skins and does not leave your skin dry. The bar soap has been described as a soap that fights human odor effectively. It works very well if you want to deep clean and get to the root of the odor. It is called the ultimate odor fighting soap.
It has its downsides. One, the soap, if it gets into your eyes, stings terribly. What this means is that whenever you use it to take a bath, you miss trying very much to make her it doesn’t get into your eyes.
Another downside is that the efficiency of the soap reduces considerably once you sweat through your clothes. Also, to get the optimal results, you have to make sure not to use the scent killer in combination with any other soap.
For the entire hunting season, you have to use only the scent killer bar soap. Again, it cannot be used for your hunting gear – rifle or bow; and it may not last as long as a spray.
However, the bar soap is a good budget option. It is very cheap and requires minimal stress. And once you’re able to not perspire, the soap will completely eliminate your human scent for an entire day, allowing you to hunt your deer more effectively.
Used together with any other kind of scent killer – a spray or an ozone generator, the bar soap is just superb in helping you eliminate your odor.
4. Cold Blue Unscented Field Spray
Best Extra Features
Sterilizes your hunting gear
99% effective
Works even when dry
Comes in small quantity
Cold Blue Unscented Field Spray is an aerosol odor eliminator that has been proven to be up to 99% effective in destroying human scent.
Cold Blue uses a patented formula to destroy odor. It uses the power of medical grade nano-silver particles. Code Blue comes in 12 ounces and 24-ounce sizes – your choice.
It is super easy to apply. Just use the scent killer to coat your clothes and hunting gear and then let it do its work. It works well even when dry.
Code Blue is made without any harmful chemical, which means that your health is safe and that the animal won’t perceive any suspicious smells either.
Using the Code Blue scent killer in your hunting gear is something akin to sterilization. This odor destroyer not only destroys unwanted odors, but it also stops bacteria from growing on your hunting gear.
Its downside is the small quantity of one package of Code Blue. If you’re a frequent hunter, then you’ll need to purchase a lot of Code Blue.
But apart from its small quantity, CodeBlue is an amazing scent control spray that has proved itself to be extremely effective in destroying unwanted scents.
5. ZeroTrace Plasma Ion Unit
Safest to use
Completely safe for your health
Comes with two batteries
Comes with an adjustable mount
Can be used only at a stand
Batteries last for only 6 hours each
If you want a scent killer like Ozone, but without the health risks, Wildgame Innovations ZeroTrace Plasma Ion Unit is for you. This scent killer uses plasma ions to neutralize human odor. And it does all that without threatening your health. ZeroTrace makes use of Pure Ion Technology to produce plasma ions that neutralize odor.
ZeroTrace is the only scent killer that uses plasma ions. What the ions do is to neutralize and dispel your odor. They don’t cover up scent or destroy it, they only bind with the odor molecules and then carry them away from you.
Because of this, ZeroTrace was not designed to be used on the move. It’s especially useful if you’re setting up a stand or a blind. All you do is to place the generator above your stand and then if it will do carry scent molecules away from you and attract the animals to your area, because they think it’s safe.
ZeroTrace comes with the generator itself, two batteries and a cord for recharging them. The batteries, when fully charged, last 6 hours each. The scent killer also comes with an adjustable mount, it helps you place the odor killer in an optimal position.
The ZeroTrace generator has a fan built into it. The fan, once you switch the plasma ions unit on, distributes plasma ions all over your surrounding. Those plasma ions then carry the scent molecules away. You don’t have to worry about the fan producing any noise. The fan, even while it’s busy distributing plasma ions, is ultra-quiet.
You cannot use the plasma ions unit on the go and the batteries last for only 6 hours. That being said, ZeroTrace is completely healthy for you and is extremely effective if you’re setting up a stand. It’s the safest among scent control products.
6. Primos Hunting Scent Eliminating Dryer-Sheet
Easiest to apply
Dual action scent killer
Acts Instantly
Has a pleasant earth blend smell
Small quantity
Lasts for only 24 hours
This scent killer is unique in the matter of application. It comes as a pack of 16 dryer sheets that eliminate odor. To apply, you just stick a few of the sheets on your clothes and hunting gear.
Primos Hunting Control Freak is an effective method of concealing odor for up to 24 hours. And it acts pretty quickly. Once you’ve stocked some sheets to yourself and your gear, the scent killer begins to act almost immediately.
This scent killer is a dual action odor eliminator. It can mask the odors originating from bacteria and also the ones originating from other sources – smoke or food odors.
You have to keep in mind that Primos Control Freak does not destroy odors. It only masks them for 24 hours. And after 24 hours, you’ll have to apply again. This is definitely less durable than those scent killers (usual aerosols) that last for 10 days. However, the action of Primos is immediate. Once you apply it, it instantly masks odors.
Also, Primos Control Freak comes in small quantity. Agreed, it comes as 16 dryer sheets in one package. Even though that sounds like a lot, you have to consider that you’ll be making use of a few days and changing them every 24 hours. So, if you plan on using scent killers very heavily, Primos may not suit your needs very much.
This deer odor blocker comes with a pleasant Earth Blend smell. This will make the game you’re hunting to be calm and unsuspecting.
This scent blocker is great for anybody, whether you’re a professional hunter, an amateur, or an enthusiast. You can even use this scent blocker on non-hunting gear. You can apply it to your sports equipment or boot to keep them from getting too smelly.
Primos is still a great option for you if you want an easy to apply scent killer that is also effective and incredibly easy to carry with you.
How to Choose the Best Scent Killer
Durability of Product
One of the things you have to consider before getting a scent killer is how long it lasts. This would be perfect if you factor in the length and frequency of your hunting trip.
Some scents last for 10 to 20 days on the objects – clothes and hunting gear – that you’ve applied them to; which is ideal if you are a frequent hunter, or if you’re planning a long hunting trip.
Some last for only 24 hours and some as shortly as 6 hours. If you don’t consider the scent durability, you’ll buy the wrong odor blocker for you.
Ease of Application
Ease of application is an important aspect of using a scent killer. You have to check how to apply the scent eliminator that you’re considering buying.
Some (aerosols) only require you to spray them. Some come in dryer sheets that you just have to stick to your gear. The Ozone emitters demand that you carry them around. And scent eliminators like the Wildlife Gold Bar Soap needs you to take a shower with them.
You have to note which you’re willing to use, that will be more convenient for you.
Health Safety
Your health is important, and some odor killers do put your health at risk.
For instance, the Ozone emitters. Ozone emitters are designed to be used while wrapped in clothes or inside a hunting gear. Even if you make sure that you do this while using an Ozone generator, spending a lot of time around it can still be harmful to your health.
Some scent killers pose no risk at all to your health. An example is the Wildgame Innovations Plasma Ion Unit. The Plasma Ion Unit is completely harmless, no matter how much time you spend with it.
Mechanism of Action
The efficacy of scent killers depends a lot on their mode of action.
Let’s take the Primos Control Freak for example. All it does is to block human scent, it does not destroy it. Ozone ememittors and aerosols destroy human odor; in fact the Ozone generators can act as sterilizers. ZeroTrace Plasma Ion Unit carries away the scent molecules from your position – this is why it cannot be used effectively on the go, you have to make a stand.
When you consider the mechanisms of action, you’ll be able to decide which scent killer would work for you best.
Quantity
The quantity of a scent killer is another important aspect of using one.
Scent killers like aerosols come in moderate to small quantities. If you plan on applying scent killers frequently, these may not be the best for you. Ozone generators are amazing because you can just recharge them when they run down. Primos Control Freak comes in a batch of 16 dryer sheets which do not last for very long.
Therefore, put into account the quantity of scent killers to make the right decision for yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Warning
Most scent killers, especially the aerosols, contain chemicals that are cancerous. These chemicals include TDI, which the state of California recognizes as one that can cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Besides this, you might want to consider an electric bike that leaves no scent trail. This might help a lot. We found that a product from eBike Generation is good enough for that purpose
Conclusion
Remember to take into account, firstly, what kind of hunter you are and how you want the best scent killer to serve you. In fact, knowing your hunting routine will lead directly to understanding which product will serve you the most.
For us, the best overall odor killer is Wildlife Research Scent Killer Gold Spray, followed closely by Boneview Ozone Generator.
Have it in mind that there is no standard top odor killer, there’s only the best scent eliminator for you.